Philadelphia Hub

Police in New York have arrested and charged two men and a teenage boy with menacing, third-degree hate crime and assault in the first degree after they chased and shot at a gay man in Brooklyn on Saturday night, reports NY Daily News.

The victim, who was dressed as a woman at the time of the attack, was walking with a friend near M.J. Beauty Salon on the corner of Putnam Ave. and Broadway in Bushwick at about 7 a.m. when he was attacked by Cody Sigue, 22, Matthew Smith, 21, and Tavon Johnson, 17.

According to police, the attackers screamed profanities and anti-gay slurs at the pair. The attackers then opened fire and shot the victim in the rear.

Johnson and Sigue were charged with menacing and third-degree hate crime, while Smith was charged with assault in the first degree. Johnson and Sigue each have one prior arrest while Smith has "an extensive arrest history," with 14 arrests including robbery.

Local resident Daquan Ruddock said:

“[It] shows how gay people can’t walk around in the street without someone saying something or doing something towards them. It’s sad.”

At a rally in LOVE Park, Philadelphia today, over 300 people showed up to voice their support for a legislation working its way through the Pennsylvania Legislature that would add LGBT protections to the state's hate crimes laws.

Joined by openly gay Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Sims, supporters carried various signs, including those reading "Bash One of Us, Bash All of Us" and "Dear Hate, This Is #Knottyourcity" (in reference to Katheryn Knott - one of the alleged perpetrators in the September 11 attack on a gay couple in Philly)

Said Sims:

"There are some in Harrisburg who object to restoring sexual orientation and gender identity protections to the hate-crime law. But they haven't been calling for repeal of the law's remaining protections, for victims targeted because of their race, color, religion or national origin -- they know they would take a political hit for that. Unfortunately, they think there's no political penalty or constituent outrage to face for leaving out women, LGBT people, or people targeted because of their ancestry or mental or physical disability. Pennsylvanians who don't like this injustice need to let their state representative and senator know now."

Attendees also gained a few insights about the gay men who were allegedly assaulted, after a friend spoke to the crowd on their behalf. Caryn Kunkle, a volunteer for the Roslyn Fire Co. who wore her uniform at the rally, referred to the victims as “Friend A” and “Friend B” and said the two are a couple.

“They are adorable together, and I love them for who they are,” Kunkle said.

Kunkle added that the first victim was an IT professional who was also once a volunteer firefighter in Abington, and that the second was a culinary artist. She told the crowd that the Sept. 11 incident occurred when “a group of young people came to my city,” and “initiated a conversation with my friends by asking 'Is that your f-ing boyfriend?'

In a statement read by Kunkle, the alleged victims said they had been called homophobic slurs by their assailants and were still recovering from the attack, but that they had appreciated the outpouring of support from the Philadelphia community.

Rep. Sims is also organizing a public hearing of the state House Democratic Policy Committee next Thursday on the issue of LGBT hate crimes.

And as expected, Philadelphia City Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown and Jim Kenney introduced a city-wide hate crimes bill protecting LGBT citizens earlier today, with Brown saying the bill had "unanimous" support from council.

A news clip we posted earlier this morning had some footage of Kathryn Knott, Philip Williams, and Kevin Harrigan, the three suspects charged in the brutal assault on a gay couple two weeks ago in Philadelphia, as they left the police station after posting bail.

Here is some longer footage of the perp walks, or runs, as the case may be.

While Knott and her companions wore hoodies and lunged into a waiting SUV, Williams and Harrigan were asked if they had any comment, or had anything to say to their victims. They did not

The 3 individuals will not be charged with committing a hate crime as Pennsylvania's hate crimes laws do not cover sexual orientation. Yesterday, state lawmakers rallied to change that. State Senator Jim Ferlo, who authored the new hate crimes bill that would specifically protect LGBT Pennsylvanians, took the opportunity to publicly come out. Rep. Brian Sims meanwhile spoke passionately about the need to enact the new legislation.

Yesterday, Philadelphia police announced that arrest warrants had been issued for three individuals accused of attacking a gay couple in City Center, Philadelphia on September 11. Those individuals, Philip Williams, 24, Kevin Harrigan, 26, and Kathryn Knott, 24, were charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal conspiracy. As of this morning, all 3 had turned themselves in to police.

Activist Scott Wooledge has looked into the social media history of one the assailants, Kathryn Knott, and found her Twitter account filled with messages that were homophobic, xenophobic, and showed a propensity for consuming alcohol. As Andy reported earlier, Knott is the daughter of Chalfont, Bucks County Police Chief Karl Knott. Neighbors of the Knotts were reportedly "not surprised" by the charges brought against Kathryn.

Take a look at Wooledge's post, "Meet #PhillyHateCrime Defendant Kathryn Knott", that provides highlights from Knott's Twitter account, AFTER THE JUMP...

Wooledge's online investigation into Knott's past underscores the pivotal role internet sleuthing has played in this case from the outset. After police released surveillance footage of the suspects, former Real Housewives of New Jersey castmember Gregory Bennett found a picture of the group involved in the gay bashing at dinner shortly before the attack. He then tweeted that photo out and Twitter user @FanSince09 was able to identify the restaurant in the background and eventually the suspects themselves using Facebook check-ins.